Quick Hits (12.9.11)

Voucher fraud. Florida lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require regular visits to schools and background checks of faculty, who teach students under the John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. Recent reports have found widespread voucher fraud among program participants. Education Sector analysts expressed skepticism of the McKay program in this 2007 report. (Miami New Times)

Crapple. Earlier this week, the Alabama Ethics Commission wrote 26 pages, detailing what teachers and other public workers can receive as gifts. It’s an unintended effect of a new state law, which this columnist says only permits teachers to receive “crapple.” (The Birmingham News)

Adjustment. In the last 10 years, Principal Valerie Reidy has shaken things up at the Bronx High School of Science – which, in turn, has caused the departure of several teachers, who say her methods are too focused on testing. (New York Magazine)

Wise up! Twelve percent of college admissions officers say that applicants’ social networking pages, like Facebook, have negatively impacted their chances of admission, according to a Kaplan survey. (Education Week)